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Sunday, March 26, 2017

*Disclaimer: I was given a VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are soley my own.

I was recently asked to review the VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker. I was really excited because I've never tested out a device like this before. It's kind of like a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, but does so many other things. Not only can you cook a slow-cooked meal faster in this Multicooker, but you can also cook rice, bone broth and yogurt in it too!

I tested out a few different recipes in this multicooker. I had success with 2. Unfortunately, the VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker needs a lot of liquid, so when I tried to make baked oatmeal, my multicooker actually malfunctioned and I had VERY burnt oatmeal left to scrape out. It was TOTALLY user error. It's made very clear in the instructions the minimum amount of liquid required to make oatmeal in the Organic Multicooker, but I did not read that until after ;) So, don't make the same mistake I did. In fact, if I were you, I would basically just follow their recipes, as this device comes with a recipe booklet. Use that as your basis, when making other dishes and follow the care and cooking instructions very closely.

The first thing I made in the Multicooker was Red Curry Chicken. It turned out great! See the recipe and instructions below.

Makes 4-5 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Using the 8 cup VitaClay Chef Organic Multicooker

U

3 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced thin

salt and pepper to taste

13.66 oz. can lite coconut milk

4 oz. red curry paste

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. ground ginger

1. Place the chicken into the clay pot in layers. Salt and pepper each layer to taste and place onions on top of each layer.

2. In a bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Pour this over the top of your chicken and onions.

3. Cover the clay pot. Place the clay pot into the multicooker base. Closer it.

4. Press the slow cooking button and you'll want the little arrow to point to the stew setting. Set it for 1 1/2-2 hours.

This turned out wonderfully. Full of flavor!

I also made brown rice in the VitaClay Chef Multicooker when I had the flu and all I could eat was rice with some broth. It came out PERFECT!!!! SO easy to make.

Again, I also tried to make baked oatmeal with my VitaClay Chef Organic MutiCooker, but as I learned the hard way, it's not meant for anything without a lot of liquid. This really limits what you can do with it in the slow cooking department. So, no baking really. That's a bummer. But, it does SO many other things. Again, it very easily makes yogurt, bone broth, stews, soups, and a plethora of other things.

The price on the VitaClay Chef Organic MultiCooker is higher than most slow cookers. It's well over $100 on any given day when I check on amazon. Honestly, I don't think I would pay this much money for this device. I still feel like I have way more freedom with my slow cooker. Even though this device will keep your food perfectly warm after it's cooked for up to 12 hours, I feel like my food would be sitting there ALL day waiting for me on warm for at least 6-7 hours. This isn't ideal for me.

This device is very cumbersome. It takes up a lot of space. It's not something I can easily keep on my counter or in my cupboard, so we'll have to store ours elsewhere.

I found this easy to clean. Even when I BURNT oatmeal on the clay pot (and I mean, B-U-R-N-T,) it came off with a little soaking, elbow grease, baking soda and dish soap. I was impressed! Not sure this would have worked out quite as well with a regular crock. I will also say, I emailed customer service right away to see what I did wrong and they were extremely helpful! I was very impressed with their level of customer service and willingness to help me with this device. It was very obvious they wanted me to be successful with it and to learn how to keep my device in good working condition.

I honestly think I'm SO used to slow cooking in a regular slow cooker, I couldn't fully wrap my mind around this device. I feel the results were the same with my chicken in this device compared to what it would have turned out like in a regular slow cooker. This would be ideal for those who are not gone the entire day, and would like a slow cooked dinner in 2 hours or less. If that's you, I highly recommend this Multicooker. If you LOVE to make yogurt or rice, this device is for you! If you're an avid bone brother maker, this device will rock your world.

Thank you, VitaClay Chef for allowing me to learn a new device and opening my mind up to the possibility of slow cooking in less time!

You can purchase this VitaClay Chef Organic MultiCooker online through amazon or at VitaClayChef.com.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

I've been busy writing an upcoming cookbook and was writing dessert recipes when this idea popped in my head! I had to make it immediately! You seriously can't go wrong with a yellow cake mix, freshly squeezed orange juice and orange zest. I mean, what's not to like about all that?!

This cake is not too sweet and is perfectly orangy! You will love it warm, cold, on it's own, with ice cream, etc. It's perfect no matter what!

Alright, alright, alright! I'm going to stop talking now so you can get to what you came here for! Here's the recipe:

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

This past weekend, I had the immense pleasure of eating at NKD Pizza in Sterling Heights.

I thought it was "just another make your own pizza joint," but I was VERY wrong!

This is THE BEST and healthiest "pizza joint" I've ever visited.

You know what makes the food even better? The fact that the owner and manager GENUINELY care about their customers, their food, the quality, the freshness and giving us a healthier option.

There is SO much about my visit that I enjoyed. I enjoyed every single minute while there.

See this? THIS was my dinner!!!!
Right?!!!! You're drooling, I know. I was too. It's ok.
Guess what? This was all gluten-free!!!!
I. KNOW.
You're looking at the Niagra Pizza (GF), NKD Caprese Salad and Gluten Free Chicken Tenders.
Every bite was just as delicious as the next!

Here's a glance at few of the other pizzas and goodies my other blogger friends tried that night.

Everyone said their meals were amazing! We had absolutely no complaints.
There is really something for everyone on the menu, but if you don't find something exactly as you like it, they are happy to make all accommodations for you, or you can build your own pizza.

They even have a very cool brand of soda for you to try with your delicious pizza.

Dessert is simple. And gluten free :) LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Seating is simple. There are a a couple bars, a larger high top table and a few regular tables.

They even their trash area is cool ;)

Another cool thing they have is a word search dry erase type board where, if you find all 20 words while you wait for your pizza, you get 10% off your next order!!!

Besides the delicious food and the amazing hospitality of the owner and manager, my favorite part was the kitchen tour where I got to see what great care they take in making sure those with allergies are taken care of.

This is the gluten free prep area. You'll notice the tools are clearly labeled. You'll see the regular tools below. The toppings are in their own area totally separate from the regular pizza station, so there is no cross contamination. They also use different pizza baking trays for gluten free pizza than regular pizza.

I have to say, I fell in love with this place from the moment we were greeted. It felt so welcoming and I was never once nervous about getting sick eating here. I HIGHLY recommend NKD Pizza. You have to go try it out!

Guess what?! They deliver within a 2 mile radius and delivery is only $1.50! Great deal and I'm TOTALLY jealous I don't live in their delivery area. I am completely willing to drive there however!

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

I recently asked my daughter what she would LOVE for me to make and do you know what she said?

"Chicken Noodle Soup! But, Mom! No veggies and stuff though Mom. Just chicken and noodles"

You got it, Ella! So, being the amazing Mom I am....I honored her request. LOL

Who could say no to this face?!

I kept things very simple by making my own broth. So, grab those veggies in your fridge and throw them in your crock with some water and chicken and get it cookin'! You'll add the noodles at the end after you've cooked them on the stove top because no one likes soggy noodles. Plus, Gluten-Free noddles do not hold up well in the slow cooker. And for as long as you'll be cooking this, you don't want the noodles to absorb all the water.

I'm trying something new as you can see! I'm going to do a few video recipes and see how it goes :)

Now, go impress your family and make some amazing Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Servings: 8-10

Ingredients:

2 cups carrots, or 2-3 whole carrots

3-4 stalks celery

1 yellow onion

4 garlic cloves, peeled

3 boneless skinless chicken thighs

1-2 Tablespoons salt (I needed to add more than I did in the video)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon basil

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons no-salt seasoning

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4-1/2 teaspoon celery seed

10 cups water

Directions: (Use a 5 quart or larger Slow Cooker for this recipe)

Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker, adding the water last. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 3.5-5 hours. With a slotted spoon, remove the veggies and bay leaf. Remove the chicken and chop into small pieces. Stir the chicken back into the soup. Meanwhile, cook your desired amount of noodles according to package directions. To serve, spoon the desired amount of noodles into your bowl, then ladle the chicken and broth over the top. Enjoy!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Are you already thinking about what you're going to make for Easter? I know, I know, you're probably making a ham, but have you thought about what you're going to serve for breakfast? How about for dessert?

Well, your day is about to get a little brighter because I'm bringing you 3 of my recipes from The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker to help make Easter day go just a little bit smoother! The Gluten-Free Slow Cooker is my newest cookbook and was released on October 2. It's FULL of all sorts of recipes, from appetizers, breakfast food, main courses, side dishes and desserts! If you need more suggestions beyond the 3 recipes listed below, I highly suggest you pick up a copy of my book and make it the easiest Easter EV-AH! ;) How about some Lasagna Roll-Ups or Apple and Onion Pork Loin for your Easter Main course instead of the usual Ham? The recipes are in the book! Or, how about making some Black-Eyed Pea and Ham Soup with those leftovers? The recipe is in the book and it's one of my FAVORITE soups ever! You'll love it! You can purchase it here.

Photography by JNV

So, let's talk the recipes I am giving you right now. How about starting Easter morning off with some delicious Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal? YUM! It's like dessert for breakfast! Seriously, you have to have some! You'll thank me later!

Moving on, I'm going to suggest serving my Brown Sugar Mashed Potatoes as a healthier alternative to the traditional mashed potatoes you may usually serve. Your family will love this new twist!

Let's end Easter dinner on a VERY good note! How about my Hazelnut and Chocolate Cheesecakes?! YES, PLEASE!!!!!!! Seriously. You'll get brownie points for the cute individualized jar presentation! Everyone will leave happy ;)

Alright....I'm going to get on with it now! Here are the recipes:

Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

Finding gluten-free cinnamon rolls
can be difficult. Making gluten-free cinnamon rolls takes way too much time.
Making Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal is simple and quick! Drizzle your
oatmeal with a delicious cinnamon frosting, and you’ve got a decadent
dessert-like oatmeal for breakfast.

>> If you don’t like the
thickness of your oatmeal in the morning, you can thin it out by adding a bit
of milk when serving.

» You can change the flavor of this
oatmeal by experimenting with different types of milk. Try coconut, cashew,
vanilla-almond, or soy milk to change things up.

Brown Sugar Mashed Sweet Potatoes

5
INGREDIENTS OR LESS

This
recipe provides all the goodness of mashed potatoes, but it’s sweet and
delicious instead of savory. You won’t need dessert after eating these
amazingly easy sweet potatoes.

6 cups (660 g) ½-inch (1 cm) peeled sweet potato cubes

1⁄3 cup (75 g) brown sugar

6 tablespoons (85 g) butter

½ cup (120 ml) vegetable stock

» Spray your crock with nonstick
cooking spray.

» Place the sweet potatoes into
the crock and sprinkle the sugar over the top. Place the butter on top, and
then pour the stock over the top as well.

» Cover the crock and cook on LOW
for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours, or until the potatoes are very tender and
pierce easily with a fork. Mash the potatoes right in the crock.

RECOMMENDED SLOW COOKER SIZE:

2
to 3 quart (2 to 3 L)

YIELD: 6 to 8 servings

TIPS &
SUGGESTIONS

This
dish pairs well with the Apple and Onion Pork Loin on page 92, the Cranberry-Glazed
Turkey Breast on page 102, and the Honey Garlic Pork Chops on page 106.

Hazelnut
and Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

These
individual cheesecakes are decadent, smooth, creamy, hazelnutty, chocolaty, and
delicious. They are incredibly charming, served in individual mason jars, which
makes for a beautiful presentation for your guests.

1
box (8 ounces, or 225 g) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1
cup (230 g) nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1⁄3
cup (60 g) granulated sugar

1
teaspoon vanilla

2
eggs

¾
cup (195 g) chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella

6 mason jars (6
ounces, or 175 ml, each)

» Using
a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla on
mediumlow speed. (You may use a hand mixer if you do not have a stand mixer.)
When it is well mixed, add the eggs, one at a time. When this is well combined,
add the chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Continue to
mix and scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.

» When
the mixture is well combined, pour or spoon the batter evenly into the 6 jars.
Leaving the lid off of the jars, place them into your crock. Carefully pour
water into the crock around the outside of the jars, until the water level is
about halfway up the outside of the mason jars. (Be careful not to get any
water in your cheesecakes.)

» Cover
the crock and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 2½ hours.

» When
the cook time is up, wearing an oven mitt, carefully
remove the mason jars from the water bath and place them on a
cooling rack.

RECOMMENDED
SLOW COOKER SIZE:

5 quart (5
L) or larger

YIELD: 6 servings

TIPS &
SUGGESTIONS

» Tie
a ribbon around each jar, correlating to whatever theme or holiday you’re celebrating.

» For
serving, top each cheesecake with a dollop of whipped cream and some mini chocolate
chips.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Recently, I had some stomach virus, which caused me to not feel so hot for 3 days. Anytime I tried to eat something, it didn't settle well. When I was younger, my parents would serve me either a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, or Mrs. Grass' Chicken Broth with Noodles. I don't eat that kind of stuff anymore...it's not good for me and it's definitely not gluten-free. So, when I want some chicken soup, I make some!

I have to say, this soup turned out PERFECTLY! When my son walked in from daycare, he said "Wow, mom! What smells so good?!" When I told him it was Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Rice he said he couldn't wait to try it! This came as a huge shock to me.

First of all, he has never liked soup.

I don't know if it's a consistency thing or what, but he just never gives it much of a chance! This time, he did. He proclaimed he would not eat the carrots (he's going through a "thing") but he CLEANED his bowl!!!! Score 1 point for team mom!

Me? I managed to eat a bowl. It felt great going down. My stomach wasn't ready. LOL However, my husband finished every last drop of that soup! It was a definite win and a recipe we'll make over and over again. I almost can't wait for one of my neighbors to get sick so I can bring some over!!! (Is that bad?!!!)

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

First of all, sorry for the delay in posting! I've been super preoccupied with, well....LIFE! I'm sure you can all relate. There are BIG, exciting things happening in my life...which I'll share with all of you as I'm able. Your support and loyalty over the years has meant the world to me! Thank you all for continuing to cook my recipes and view my blog! You're the best!

So...onto this Salmon!!

This recipe came from me needing to make something for dinner because my inlaws were coming! I do some of my best work under pressure ;) Little did I know, they wouldn't be staying for dinner, but that just gave us delicious leftovers. LOL

I've been completely OBSESSED with Basil and Garlic paste. If you haven't tried it yet, you need this in your life. It's in the produce section in little plastic tubes. We put it in our eggs, meatloaf, hamburgers, etc. It's SO extremely flavorful and fresh! LOVE how convenient it is for us to use. So, I've been using it a TON in my cooking. It's really the perfect consistency for a nice rub, so that's what I did with it. Mixed it with a few spices and rubbed it on the salmon! Easy peasy! I don't have time for complicated ;)

Monday, January 18, 2016

I'm going to start off with an apology. Unlike my normal "style" there is no final picture. Boo!

I know, I know...you're sad. BUT, in my defense, it was Christmas Eve and my plate didn't look so hot. LOL

I am a HUGE fan of Coconut Curry! HUGE! When my husband came home with some Maya Kaimal Coconut Curry Sauce that was gluten-free from Costco (it comes in a 2 pack with Vindaloo sauce too), I about died and went to heaven! I knew I had to do something with it. Turns out, I had the perfect occasion. My Uncle from California was in town and would be joining us at my Aunt's house for Christmas Eve. Not only is he gluten-free like me, but he is Vegetarian. I had offered to make something gluten-free and vegetarian, so it was the perfect opportunity.

So, this delicious Vegetable Coconut Curry was born! It was SO filling and incredibly delicious! I served it over Edamame Noodles (we buy them at Costco), but you could serve it over rice, brown rice, quinoa or any type of gluten-free pasta you prefer. Or, eat it by itself! Another bonus of making this recipe is it's kind of a "clean out the fridge" type recipe, so please feel free to add or delete an ingredient or two to make it work with what you have around your house.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Step out of your normal traditional comfort zone and try this spectacular glaze for your turkey breast straight out of my new cookbook, The Gluten Free Slow Cooker. The sweetness of the cranberries mixed with the savory onion and other seasonings make this turkey breast superb.

Fix-It and Forget-It Lazy and Slow

Fix-It and Forget-It Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook

Fix-It and Forget-It Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes for Mom

Fix-It and Forget-It Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes for Dad

About Me

I'm a wife and a mother to a beautiful 8 year old and active 5 year old . I love to cook, but as crazy busy as my life is, the slow cooker is my life-saver! I am the author and brand ambassador for Fix-It and Forget-It, teach Elementary Music full-time, I'm a Young Living Essential Oils Educator and a fitness instructor for ALM Zone. My cookbooks can all be purchased wherever books are sold. Am I crazy busy...or just crazy? Yes, but I love living my life the way I'm living it!